Migrating from Shopware 4 to Shopware 6 isn’t just a version upgrade, it’s a complete shift to a modern, API-first, and performance-optimized eCommerce platform. While many merchants moved from Shopware 5 to 6 in recent years, jumping directly from Shopware 4 to Shopware 6 comes with its own unique set of challenges.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the Shopware 4 to Shopware 6 migration process, share a real-world migration case study, and offer tips based on hands-on experience.

Why Migrate to Shopware 6?

Shopware 4 is now end-of-life, which means:

• No security updates

• No compatibility with modern tools

• Limited performance under modern eCommerce standards

By migrating to Shopware 6, you gain:

• A future-proof, headless-ready platform

• Advanced CMS via Shopping Experiences

• Powerful rule builder and dynamic product groups

• Modern tech stack (Symfony, Vue.js, API-first architecture)

Challenges in Migrating from Shopware 4 (Not Just an Upgrade)

Migrating from Shopware 5 to 6 is well-supported, but from Shopware 4 to 6, it’s more complex. Shopware 4 and 6 are structurally and technically very different, which means a one-click migration isn’t possible.

Instead, you need a planned, multi-phase approach to:

• Extract and transform legacy data

• Match and rebuild your store’s design

• Ensure feature parity

• Re-map URLs and SEO-relevant metadata

 What Needs to Be Migrated?

Migrating from Shopware 4 to 6 involves more than just products and customers.

Here’s a checklist of what typically needs to move:

• ✔️ Customers & Addresses

• ✔️ Orders & Order History

• ✔️ Categories & Category Tree

• ✔️ Products (simple + variants)

• ✔️ Manufacturers

• ✔️ Media & Product Images

• ✔️ Custom Fields

• ✔️ Properties & Filters

• ✔️ SEO URLs

• ✔️ CMS Pages & Blog Content

• ✔️ Payment & Shipping Settings

Real Migration Story: Shopware 4 to 6 (What We Actually Did)

Recently, we helped a client migrate from Shopware 4 directly to Shopware 6, and we want to share the behind-the-scenes of that journey with you. This wasn’t just a technical upgrade — it was a full rebuild with a clean Shopware 6 foundation, keeping the design, structure, and features the client loved.

When the client first contacted us, they said:

“Team, migrating from Shopware 5 to 6 is doable… but 4 to 6? That’s the tricky part.”

Our response?

“Don’t worry, We’ve got this 😎.”

Here’s what we did 👇

Database & Data Migration:

Migrated core store data using Shopware’s migration tool and custom scripting:

• Order Synchronization

• Category Structure

• Manufacturer Details

• Media files and links

• Simple + Variant Products

• Properties and Custom Fields

 Structure & Layout Rebuild:

To ensure the new store looked and worked like the old one:

• Matched layout of product listing, detail pages, and homepage

• Added List & Grid toggle with numeric pagination

• Verified product images, text blocks, and media assets

• Rebuilt CMS pages using Shopping Experiences

• Recreated filters and navigation

• Implemented Recently Viewed Products slider to boost UX

QA & Final Adjustments:

• Reviewed and fixed all content mismatches

• Ensured all custom fields & relationships migrated correctly

• Tested SEO URLs, redirects, and meta content

When we finished, the client said:

“Team, great job! Are you guys open for another Shopware migration project?” 😂

Let’s just say the answer was obvious!

Tools We Used During Migration

• Shopware Migration Assistant

• Custom SQL scripts for Shopware 4 DB export

• Media file batch migration using CLI

• Manual CMS recreation (Shopping Experiences)

• Shopware 6 Rule Builder for flexible shipping/payment logic

Best Practices for Shopware 4 → 6 Migration

If you’re planning your own migration, here are some quick tips:

1. Audit Your Current Store
   Know what you’re migrating and which features must be rebuilt or replaced.

2. Use the Shopware Migration Assistant
   While built mainly for Shopware 5, it can help bring in structured data from Shopware 4 with some preprocessing.

3. Rebuild, Don’t Copy
   Don’t try to clone the old shop — rebuild it using Shopware 6 best practices (CMS, rule builder, new plugin ecosystem).

4. Don’t Skip Testing
   Test data integrity, product detail accuracy, order history completeness, and image links.

5. Plan SEO Redirects
   Use 301 redirects for legacy URLs to avoid losing your organic traffic.

Need Help Migrating from Shopware 4 to 6?

At Codecommerce, we specialize in Shopware migrations, custom development, and performance optimization. Whether you’re looking to preserve your store’s structure or redesign from the ground up, we’ll help you get it done seamlessly.

Let us handle the complexity so you can focus on growth.

Contact us today for a free migration consultation.